The Longest Day

Introduction:

I’ll remember this as the game that me and Mike combined to score 70 points.” — Stacey King

· In the Bible, God’s partnership with His people is called a “Covenant.”

THIS IS A PICTURE OF A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP; LET’S LOOK AT HOW IT SHOWS US THAT WE DON’T DESERVE THIS COVENANT, AND HOW IT GIVES US THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW THAT WE NEED.

I) God’s Covenant Partnership Is Undeserved

A. Let’s Make a Deal: A Picture of Covenant Lived Out

i. How We Got here: A Suzerain-Vassal Treaty (that Joshua Honors!) (vv. 1-5)

1. The Gibeonites – NOT the Israelites – are threatened (vs. 5)

2. Joshua is obligated to defend the vassal covenant partner (ch. 9, vs. 6)

3. Not only Joshua, but GOD is defending the undeserving Gibeonites

ii. A Divine Picture: God covenants with undeserving people

1. God’s relationship with us is similar: He partners with helpless people

2. EXAMPLE: Picking teams in middle school – the fastest, and the best…

iii. A Divine Picture: God protects undeserving people (vs. 7, 9, 10-11)

1. Gibeonites: Covenant benefit is that you are rescued in your time of need

2. Whatever our need might be, God is a refuge for us when we are in need

B. Don’t Be Afraid: Because God Promises Victory

i. A Command: “Do Not Be Afraid because the Lord fights for his people (vs. 8)

1. In the face of looming battle, God reassures Joshua – Do not be afraid

2. In the looming fears of our world: Culture wars; church change; cancer;

3. The Lord Fights for His People (vs. 14, 42)

ii. The Rationale: The Victory is so certain, it’s past tense

1. Why? The battle hasn’t happened but victory is in past tense!

2. Amidst our fears we may be assured that our future is written in past-tense

3. As this motivated Joshua, this can motivate us with great courage!

Transition:

II) God Fights On Behalf of Helpless People

A. The Victory From Above: God Delivers His People From Their Enemies

i. “The Lord throws…” (God is the active one in battle) (vv. 10-11)

1. God is the one behind the chaos that leads to victory on the battlefield

2. Yet God uses natural means – a hailstorm to achieve victory

ii. The Lord Listens (Joshua asks and God answers) (vv.12-14)

1. Joshua asks God to stop the sun – and many theories abound

2. The point: God hears the prayers of his servant, and intervenes

B. The Victory Below: God Delivers Helpless People From Their Greatest Enemy

i. The Hailstorm & Sun that Scorches a Greater City (Rev. 16:8-9, 19-21)

1. God defeats this alliance of oppression, injustice, violence, and evil…

2. …But others would come, then & now: The end times = Babylon

3. One day this city will face the scorching judgment of the sun, and the destruction of hail

ii. The Deep Darkness That Assures us of Victory

1. Yet we need not fear; why?

2. On the cross, Jesus saw not the sun standing still, but the sun being plunged into deepest darkness

3. Jesus cried out – yet God did not answer him

4. Therefore, God draws us into a covenant partnership with us, and promises that he will fight for us – even against death itself.

Transition:

Conclusion

Let us take refuge in God’s care!